Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 209: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has had an indication from the Prison Service as to the steps taken to isolate persons involved in stabbings from other prisoners, to ensure that others are not attacked; if governors are made aware of the past violent history in prison of prisoners who are transferred due to such incidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4221/07]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 210: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has had talks with the Prisons Service in relation to the high incident of stabbings in the prisons here; the action proposed to protect prisoners from other prisoners intent on stabbing or causing bodily harm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4222/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 210 together.

I am advised by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) that the Service is fully conscious of its responsibility to provide safe and secure custody for all persons committed to its care.

On committal, all prisoners are interviewed by the Governor and based on the information available, a decision is then made as to where a particular prisoner will be accommodated. This information could consist of previous knowledge of the prisoner, type of offence, information provided by the prisoner, intelligence reports from the Gardaí, prisoner's family/friends or general prison information. Subject to normal operating constraints, prisoners will as far as possible be accommodated in an area of the prison considered suitable to their safe custody or transferred to another institution where their safety needs can be best provided for.

In all cases where physical violence by stabbing or other means is inflicted on another, the perpetrator, if identified, is immediately separated from the general population. This is to safeguard the general population, to protect the perpetrator from the risk of retaliation by fellow prisoners and to allow any resultant tension within the prison to dissipate. Each case is fully investigated by the Governor and the Gardaí as appropriate. The Governor will instigate a disciplinary hearing and details of the breach of discipline and punishment will be recorded on the Prison Service IT system. The bringing of criminal charges is a matter for the Gardaí in consultation with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

In the event that prisoners continue to be at risk from a particular individual, it is open to a prison governor to request permission from the Operations Directorate of the IPS to have that individual transferred to another prison. Generally the governors of both prisons will discuss the issue prior to a formal request being made to the IPS. Upon being satisfied that sufficient grounds for transferring the individual exist, the IPS will authorise the transfer.

The separation of prisoners for their own protection or the protection of others is a feature of all prison systems worldwide. The Irish Prison Service is continuously reviewing its own procedures and is in contact with other prison services throughout Europe to establish best practice in its endeavour to ensure the safety of staff and prisoners at all times.

I have conveyed to the Director of the Irish Prisons Services in a series of meetings the necessity to give every precaution against incidents of the type referred to by the Deputy.